Wes Bunch

CLINCHPORT — Two people were arrested in Scott County on multiple felony charges this week after authorities allegedly discovered them operating an active methamphetamine lab in a wooded area near Clinchport.

Douglas Lawson, 30, and Pam Williams, 30, both of Clinchport, were taken into custody the Scott County Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and conspiracy.

The pair were allegedly found with four grams of cooked meth and another 12 ounces of meth oil, Scott County investigators said. A 32 ounce sports drink bottle was reportedly used to make the drug with the “one-pot” method.

Scott County authorities said they were alerted to the lab after a relative of Douglas’ found a drink bottle containing a “bubbling liquid” hidden in a grill behind their home.

Authorities arrived at the home a short time later to secure the lab before conducting a search for Lawson and Williams, who had left moments before officers showed up, said Lt. Chris Holder of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.

The pair were reportedly found a short time later on an unpaved road just off Mustang Street in Clinchport.

Investigators said they were able to walk up behind the pair unnoticed and make the arrest after locating them on a hill a short distance off the roadway.

Both Douglas and Williams were allegedly found at the site with the cooked meth and various drug paraphernalia.

Authorities said the lab and meth oil were discovered an additional 150 yards up the road after a search of the area.

In addition to the four grams of finished meth and 12 ounces of meth oil, authorities said they also discovered various ingredients used to manufacture the drug, as well as evidence that the site had been used as a location to cook in the past.

Authorities said the drugs and meth oil have an approximate street value between $1,500 and $3,000.

One narcotics investigator said the yield of meth oil was larger than normally associated with the one-pot cooking method and could have yielded between a half ounce to an ounce of meth with 90 percent or greater purity..

Douglas and Williams were reportedly taken into custody without incident and are being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Duffield without bond.

The pair are scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 1 in Scott County General District Court .

The Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force and the Virginia State Police assisted with both the arrests and the site cleanup.